‘Inframan’ missing: Opposition targets Maharashtra government over infrastructure woes in heavy rains
They said heavy downpour over the last few days had exposed “collapsing infrastructure” in Mumbai and other parts of the state.
Senior Congress leaders Satej Patil and Vijay Wadettiwar, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Ambadas Danve and other Opposition members participated in the demonstration, alleging that poor infrastructure management has seriously affected the lives of common people during the ongoing heavy rain.
Read More: Mumbai rain: Landslide triggers suspension of Mumbai-Pune train services, highway traffic returns to normal
While raising slogans claiming the disappearance of “Inframan” without naming any names, the legislators accused the government of endangering the lives of Mumbaikars due to lack of infrastructure.
They also chanted slogans saying Mumbai had come to a standstill after the first rain and attacked the government for deaths due to open drains and other civil infrastructure failures.
Meanwhile, NCP (SP) Lok Sabha member Supriya Sule urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to make a detailed statement about the Missing Link project on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Traffic on both the Pune-Mumbai Expressway and the old Pune-Mumbai highway was suspended on Monday following heavy rainfall, floods and landslides.
According to police, the Pune-Mumbai Expressway was closed between the Link Link and Lost Link sections after a concrete pillar fell on the carriageway.
The Mumbai-Pune Expressway Missing Link, opened two months ago, is a 13km bypass cutting through the Sahyadri mountains, reducing travel distance by 6km and reducing commute time by 25 to 30 minutes.
Şule told reporters, “The Prime Minister should make a proper statement. Has a comprehensive evaluation been made regarding the Lost Link Bridge and how many problems may be encountered in heavy rains? I ask the Prime Minister to make a statement on this issue as soon as possible.”
Read More: Monsoon session: Maharashtra meeting postponed due to heavy rains in Mumbai
The NCP (SP) leader said he would not comment on corruption allegations at this stage, but argued that the real cost of the project should be made public.
He said public anger over the disruption was justified, claiming that despite the government’s focus on infrastructure, a single heavy rain paralyzed the state.
“Link between Mumbai and Pune has been affected. There is no certainty whether MLAs will be able to reach Mumbai to attend the legislative session. All three roads, Tamhini Ghat, old Mumbai-Pune highway and Lost Link on Mumbai-Pune Expressway are closed. This is just the beginning of the monsoon and it has already affected the state,” Sule said. he said.
